All Aboard Travelhttps://www.all-aboard.co.za
Your tailor-made holiday and family travel specialists
Wed, 10 Apr 2019 10:19:06 +0000 en-ZA
hourly
1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.1.1The Billabong Junior Serieshttps://www.all-aboard.co.za/billabong-junior-series/
Tue, 27 Jun 2017 15:07:51 +0000http://all-aboard.mockup.co.za/?p=1899The Billabong Junior Series presented by All Aboard Travel has kicked off in epic conditions at Willard Beach in Ballito. If you're in the area, be sure to check out the best junior surfers in the country battle it out for the coveted Billabong Junior Series Title. --- PRESS RELEASE Billabong Junior Series pres.

The Billabong Junior Series presented by All Aboard Travel has kicked off in epic conditions at Willard Beach in Ballito.

If you’re in the area, be sure to check out the best junior surfers in the country battle it out for the coveted Billabong Junior Series Title.

—

PRESS RELEASE

Billabong Junior Series pres. by All Aboard Travel Opens the Ballito Pro Surf Festival in KwaDukuza

The Billabong Junior Series pres. by All Aboard Travel, the third of four surfing events that will crown champions in seven age divisions for boys and girls for the 20th successive year, heralds the start of the 13-day Ballito Pro Surf Festival on Tuesday.

The world’s longest running junior surfing series has nurtured the competitive careers of countless local surfers including current world No. 3 Jordy Smith and former WSL Championship Tour (CT) campaigners Bianca Buitendag, Travis Logie and Rosy Hodge along with current QS standouts Beyrick de Vries, Michael February and Matt McGillivray.

Scheduled for Tuesday to Thursday, 27 to 29 June, at Willard Beach in Ballito, the junior event features the cream of country’s surfers aged 18-and-under along with a contingent of international competitors who have posted impressive results both in South African waters and in their home countries.

Points earned in the Under 18 JQS1,000 events for men and women count towards the annual WSL Africa titles and the selection of four men and two women to represent the region at the WSL World Junior Championships in Australia in January.

The 3A rated Surfing South Africa (SSA) events for U16, U14 and U12 boys and girls count towards the 2017 South African Surf Tour (SAST) 2017 titles. All the events offer prize money with the points earned over the four events determining the prestigious Billabong Junior Series champions.

Jake Elkington (Kommetjie) heads the seeding for the JQS1,000 men’s event after a stellar 2017 season in which he has reached the final in five of six events, winning three. But 2016 series champion and defending Ballito winner Adin Masencamp (Strand) will be determined to improve on his second place in the rankings at this event. And both face tough challengers in the form of the Faulkner brothers – Joshe and Angelo – from Jeffreys Bay and Cody Young who is ranked No. 6 on the Hawaiian junior leaderboard after finals appearances at Pipeline and Sunset Beach.

In the U16 boys, Max Elkington (Kommetjie) has won six consecutive Billabong Junior Series pres. by All Aboard Travel titles but the likes of fellow Capetonians Eli Beukes and the rapidly improving Luke Slijpen along with Bryce du Preez (East London) and Dillen Hendricks (Jeffreys Bay) are hungry for victory.

Kayla Nogueira is the favourite for the U16 title after a phenomenal run of results this year while Zoe Steyn (Kalk Bay) and Nate Spalding (Durban) top the current U14 girls and boy’s rankings with Kyra Bennie (Durban) having won two out of two in the U12 boys.

Presenting sponsor All Aboard Travel have added a huge incentive by providing tickets to Bali for the overall series winners of the U18 Men’s and Women’s events. BOS Ice Tea reinforced their long standing support for junior surfing by taking the title sponsorship for the second event in the series, the BOS Cape Crown presented by Billabong in Cape Town in May.

The Billabong Junior Series is supported by All Aboard Travel, BOS, VonZipper and Zigzag.

The U18 events are sanctioned by the World Surf League (WSL) with the U16, U14 and U12 events sanctioned by Surfing South Africa (SSA), the governing body for the sport of surfing in South Africa.

The Ballito Pro Surf Festival runs from 27 June to 9 July and includes the Billabong Junior Series pres. by All Aboard Travel, the SSA Ballito Trials pres. by Billabong, the QS1,000 Ballito Women’s Pro pres. by Billabong and the QS10,000 Ballito Pro pres. by Billabong.

]]>Surfing In The Deserthttps://www.all-aboard.co.za/surfing-in-the-desert/
Mon, 26 Oct 2015 14:25:36 +0000http://www.all-aboard.co.za/?p=1278It was 34 degrees Celsius at first light. Summer in Dubai is not for the faint of heart. My wife and I had a choice to make. We could either lay around the pool until the temperatures reached the somewhat unbearable 47 degrees forecast for that afternoon, or we could head 2 hours inland, into

]]>It was 34 degrees Celsius at first light. Summer in Dubai is not for the faint of heart. My wife and I had a choice to make. We could either lay around the pool until the temperatures reached the somewhat unbearable 47 degrees forecast for that afternoon, or we could head 2 hours inland, into the desert to Al Ain, to go surfing. I was struggling to wake up, feeling somewhat disorientated and dehydrated, and feeling a bit boxed in up there on the fifth floor. I felt myself leaning towards the pool option, with an escape clause of heading to the A/C of the hotel room when it all got a bit too much down there in what could easily be described as hell, albeit a version that includes girls in little bikinis. I decided to go ride some waves.

Situated 2 hours from The Palm area of Dubai, the Wadi Adventure facility – Wadi – boasts arguably the best wave pool in the world. It’s a long drive, and it cost about 300 AED (R800) to get there in a registered taxi. On arrival we were greeted by a Durbanite at the front desk, running the surf bookings, who told us that the wave pool was fully booked for the day, as well as for the night. The only way to get into the wave pool was to book in advance, and no, there were no gaps. Bitterly disappointed, we were getting ready to muster up enough courage to pay the R800 to get home without surfing when it was mentioned that there might be a cancellation on the schedule, so we hung around. When operating at full capacity, the wave pool is capable of producing a wave every 90 seconds. With the maximum of six surfers in the water, it takes nine minutes for every one to get a ride. At a squeeze you can fit in 6 waves each, but it’s most likely going to be 5 waves each. Your session finishes on the exact stroke of the hour.

The pool gets booked out well in advance, with people booking 2-hour sessions and more in order to make the journey worthwhile. There are other options, of surfers booking out the whole pool for themselves for a few hours as well. Either way, you need to do everything well in advance, of which we knew nothing. While waiting for our possible slot, we were introduced to the Wadi Adventures Operations Manager, Lennard, who happened to be from South Africa as well. We chatted about life in the desert, life in South Africa, and surfing in the pool. Turns out there had been a cancellation, and we had a slot in the pool in two hours time. My wife hadn’t surfed in a few years as a result of bringing two kids into the world, but the waves looked friendly and it was so hot. After a few snacks in the restaurant we sipped on some icy water, covered ourselves in sunblock, and headed out to catch a few waves in the desert.

Situated at the base of Jebel Hafeet, this mountain forms a unique backdrop in a country that is primarily level sand and scrub. Sitting in the bath-warm chlorine water, looking up at the mountain range and waiting for an artificial wave to get bounced at you while people sit on the concrete walls watching you were all very unique experiences. To catch a wave you need to sit quite near to the concrete wall. The wave comes at you from the far side of the pool, rebounds off the wall where you are waiting, and it comes at you really quickly. You paddle hard for it, and as you feel it grabbing, you paddle harder and spring to your feet quickly or run the risk of the wave leaving you behind as it continues on to its concrete beach. The speed takes a little getting used to, as does the fact that the wave appears to be coming at you from the wrong side. For the first 30 minutes the waves break along the right hand wall, forming right-hand breaking waves, and mid session the waves switch and break off the other wall forming left-breaking waves.

All Aboard’s Lorrin Jarvis, having a go.

There are boards for hire at Wadi, and you can bring you own equipment if you are returning from a Maldives surf trip or somewhere similar. I rode one of the local staff-members boards, which was kindly lent to me. Another staff member, the surf guide Michael who hailed from The Bluff, Durban, briefed us on the dynamics of the wave pool and kept watch throughout our session. With all the South Africans at the resort we felt very much at home. I was allowed five waves during my hour session, and I fell off on one. I was somewhat surprised at the speed of the wave, and popped a wheelie at the bottom, falling on my bum. My wife fared similarly, falling on two waves and riding 3 for a combined wave count of 7 between us. Two hours in a taxi there at AED300 (R800) and two hours back for the same price, two of us for an hour in the water along with boards and a locker cost us AED350 (R942) and some lunch and coffees put us back about R250. Total spent on the mission was R2792.00. My wife and I had 5 waves each including the wipeouts. That’s R279.20 per wave. Which could seem a bit expensive. To a non-surfer, that is…

]]>Jungle Fever – A Return To G-Landhttps://www.all-aboard.co.za/jungle-fever-a-return-to-g-land/
Tue, 09 Jun 2015 13:29:43 +0000http://www.all-aboard.co.za/?p=1203We’re back in the jungle and it’s weird in here. As much as man tries to push it back, so the jungle forces its way forward. It’s a hopeless battle, like trying to stop a shifting sand dune. It’s relentless and remorseless and eventually you just know that nature is going to win. The jungle

]]>We’re back in the jungle and it’s weird in here. As much as man tries to push it back, so the jungle forces its way forward. It’s a hopeless battle, like trying to stop a shifting sand dune. It’s relentless and remorseless and eventually you just know that nature is going to win. The jungle densely closes over the footpaths, trees fall over all the time, get caught up in branches and are left hanging. Monkeys crash through the jungle and then sit and watch you patiently. They watch from their domain, their kingdom, as you nervously scan the ground in front of you for snakes and scorpions, keep your eyes open for jungle badgers and pray all the time that the rumours of tigers are just that: rumours. Wild pig sightings are rare, as are those of the black puma. Mosquitoes are rampant, and malaria lurks in every corner. Rats gnaw at your losman all night, wanting to eat your soap. Sea-snakes, stonefish and dugongs await you in the water. In this part of the world, eastern Java, nature reigns supreme.

The wave has been re-discovered, and new sections have come to light in extreme tides and swell directions. Inbetween the well-known sections like Kongs, Moneytrees, Launch Pads and Speedies there’s now The Fang, The Ledge and Quiksilvers. Not forgetting Chickens and Twenty-Twenties. And a very secret, inaccessible right-hander. But still the coral remains ever present. Shallow and sharp, it beckons at every bottom turn, it smiles at you every time you slip behind the falling lip of a barrelling wave. It grabs for soft bare feet and clutches for office hands stroking in shallow water. A reef cut is bad news in the tropics. The infection that inevitably results can be treated and despite being cleaned, never seems to actually heal until you get out of the humidity. The jungle humidity is unbelievable. It hangs on you like a warm, wet blanket. Any body movement results in a break-out of sweat.

There are other dangers on land. Western dangers brought over with Boyum and Lopez and all the others who dreamed of a surfing monastery in the jungle all those years ago. A monastery dedicated to the appreciation of one of the finest waves in the world. These dangers are the foibles of being a human. The modern addictions. Civilised cravings. Beer, whiskey, cigarettes, painkillers and sleeping pills.

Our first days floated by on a wave of malaria medication. The waves were small, we were tired, jet-lagged and still finding our groove with the people and the environment. Time has little meaning on the edge of reality, and my watch had stopped working. Our heart rates slowed down and our bowel movements increased dramatically. It’s no wonder there are very few fat Indonesian people. Their diet passes through you fairly quickly, and their staples of rice and veggies speeds up the metabolic rate dramatically. Along with all the exercise we were getting we actually started feeling good after a while, so we doused this feeling with beer. We played pool and we drank a few beers every night. We saw a couple of jungle creatures. Then the swell jumped to 12 foot overnight and went out of control. We watched, languidly, from the shade of a tiny tree on the water’s edge as the jungle exhaled heated offshore breath out to sea. Some guys tried to surf, but the wash was impossible. Mission not accomplished.

Two sleeping tablets later and it was miraculously morning again, and it was pumping! Six to eight foot and barrelling! A fierce rip left over from the previous days massive swell a constant reminder and irritation as we hooked into perfection. One wave at Speed Reef is all you need to wash away the stink of the city, to cleanse your soul from the constant, mind-numbing barrage of mobile phones, Insta, Whatsapp, Facebook and Twitter that is the norm in our insular modern world. Just one of these waves is a fair trade for the last six months I’ve spent stressing about someone else’s business. It’s a serious wave, and your body reacts accordingly. Adrenal glands start squirting crazily, heart rates quicken and endorphins move around and hit receptors. Lucidity roughly pushes jungle sluggishness aside as giant sets loom on the bommie and threaten to break outside and wash everyone over the reef. One mammoth set catches us dossing, and boards and safety concerns are flung aside as we swim deep! Breathless, with eyes popping, we regain our position in the lineup with just a little more care.

After the session the mood of the camp changes dramatically. There are excited faces. Some people are talking about the big set, or about someone’s sick backhand barrel. People are examining their boards; getting bigger boards ready just in case. We head straight for the bar.

For the rest of our nine days the waves pump. Ranging from four to eight feet, they never let up. We would wake up in the morning, go through the breakfast/ablution motions, and get ready for the late morning’s trade winds to kick in. They kick in everyday. It’s just a matter of when. We surf until we are chafed, sunburned, arms weak and sore from paddling. Still the waves pour through.

Our trip has been characterised by an afternoon low tide, so the mornings are spent furiously getting as many waves as possible. As the tide drains out over the afternoon hours we chill and watch, sipping on our beers. Some guys surf through the low tides and the harsh afternoon glare of the dropping sun. It’s not as good but it’s so uncrowded. One of the best waves in the world and about five guys surfing it. Hard to accept as reality.

We’ve emptied the beer fridge every night, but we’ve surfed every day, so that’s alright then. The jungle has a mollifying spirit that envelops you and seems to make all these outrageous waves and occurrences seem normal and commonplace.

Our last day and the waves are still going off, and we’re back out there. We surf until we can’t surf anymore. Until we are sated. Until we know that we could go, if necessary, for a few weeks without another surf. Or so we believe.

]]>Snow Way – a little snowboarding adventurehttps://www.all-aboard.co.za/snow-way-a-little-snowboarding-adventure/
Wed, 27 May 2015 03:32:53 +0000http://www.all-aboard.co.za/?p=1180It was on my return from Hawaii one year that my wife insisted that I go snowboarding. I wasn’t into it at all. All I was into was going traveling to a place that had nice waves and warm water. Wherever I went it had to be warm. I had no interest whatsoever in traveling

]]>It was on my return from Hawaii one year that my wife insisted that I go snowboarding. I wasn’t into it at all. All I was into was going traveling to a place that had nice waves and warm water. Wherever I went it had to be warm. I had no interest whatsoever in traveling to places where it was cold enough to snow, where you had to wear so many layers of clothing, gloves, scarves, and boots. Not my jol.

Old friend Grant Myrdal was working on Mount Hood Meadows, in Oregon, and he introduced me to snowboarding. One day of wipeouts, one day of getting the feel and on day three I was so hooked I knew that there was going to be a serious problem. Getting the feel of it, understanding the basic idea of screaming down powder at full speed with the trees flying past you and people all over the place is crazy – a total mind melt.

I was so hooked on the sport after being introduced to it by such a cool china like Grant, that by the time I arrived back in south Africa I had cashed in a few policies, decided to be immature about the future education of my two kids, and had booked a ticket for my wife and I to Corcheval. We were staying at 1550 – half way up the mountain, and it was amazing. We had a walk-on chalet, and there was pow from the day we arrived.

My wife had been skiing before, but didn’t have too much experience at snowboarding. She struggled, but Corcheval is a nice place and we ventured out to eat some of the local delicacies – that melted cheese meal – and drink some fine beers.

On a beautiful bluebird day my friend Paul, who works in a ski shop, took me snowboarding. Paul is an expert and I am a novice, but he took me to highest mountain I had ever seen. The only way down was black – in every direction, and I was so not interested in black slopes at that stage.

We got to the top and Paul and I went down this little run to get to the top of a big drop, somehow I lost him amongst the throng. I turned left when I should have turned right. Looking for him. I made my way down this massive hill, too steep to be fun, until I finally got to the bottom and there was no Paul to be seen.

Turns out I had traveled to the next resort – Meribel – and I was at the bottom. To get home I had to go back up the mountain.

Thing was, I had no valid ski pass for this resort, no money and no cell phone. I had had Paul, who speaks fluent French, but he had gone so MIA. I started to panic.

I barged my way onto a very crowded ski-lift, 12 people stared at me as I explained that I had no ticket to someone who didn’t understand my language. I sat down, firmly, the lift started and there was no stopping.

I eventually fell out – at the top of some other mountain, and the black slopes looked worse. The sun was starting to move and I was now quite far from happy. My wife was waiting for me half way down a gentle slope that felt like it was about 100 km of snow away, and I had to get down a slope that looked like a giant golf ball.

It was excruciatingly slow to get down. There was no way to let go, to snowboard. It was sideways and pushing snow and panicking all the way down. By the time I got to the bottom I was exhausted and needed a beer and a sleep. I still needed to catch a bus home, and I was also angry and tired and thirsty.

My wife was at home, panicking. She was about to call the helicopters to find me. I was frozen, hungry and thirsty so quickly drank a beer and had a shower. Once I had calmed down I saw the funny side. I had snowboarded all the way to the next resort, I had conquered a black slope, albeit nervously, and I had spent a full day on the slopes by myself, even though it was all by mistake.

]]>Hanging On A Boathttps://www.all-aboard.co.za/hanging-on-a-boat/
Tue, 12 May 2015 14:20:28 +0000http://www.all-aboard.co.za/?p=1173Going on a boat trip to the Mentawais is something that every surfer should do at some stage. Many people expound on the spirituality of a boat trip, of how it transcends normal surf experience and becomes one of dreamy surf sessions, bonding with people who are set to become friends for life, through thick

]]>Going on a boat trip to the Mentawais is something that every surfer should do at some stage.

Many people expound on the spirituality of a boat trip, of how it transcends normal surf experience and becomes one of dreamy surf sessions, bonding with people who are set to become friends for life, through thick and thin. Getting such long tube rides that your whole perspective on life changes, that dramas become irrelevant, that your kind clicks into a new gear. This wasn’t one of those trips. This was a trip to get out of the freezing cold of a terrible British winter.

Two of my good friends came along for the ride. We had been doing all sorts of terrible jobs in London. Working construction, washing dishes, making sandwiches for old people and cutting lawns. Eventually we were all working for garden services, and working outside in frozen winter slush is no joy for a surfer dreaming of warm water and barrels.

We were obviously all earning pounds, but as everyone who has ever ventured to England knows that the inverse to earning pounds is that you’re spending pounds, and sometimes life becomes so hard that you don’t think twice before blowing a week’s salary on particularly big night on the jol, or another week’s salary on a ghetto blaster to make your dismal living conditions slightly more fun. The hardest thing about earning a foreign currency is saving a foreign currency. Still, we had been squirrelling away for a while now, had some boards ready, and were prepared to blow our savings on one amazing boat trip.

We had picked one of the best boats in the Mentawais. Our friends had used it before and had come back to London with tans and blonde hair, telling us about the amazing staff, incredible food, and waves at some place called The Hole. We were all a bit rusty from seasons in the UK, and descriptions of the death pits at The Hole were not really what we were looking for. Innocuous-sounding waves like Bikinis, John Candys, Burgerworld, Beng-Beng’s and A-Frames sounded like so much more fun for the slightly out of shape and out of rhythm surfer. We decided that when we got there we were going to hang around the Playgrounds area for a while just to find our grooves.

The trip from Heathrow all the way to Padang was a breeze. Our flights connected, there were minimal layover hours and we were soon disembarking on Indonesian soil, ready for our adventure.

We were picked up and taken directly to the port, and ushered onto our boat. It was to be our home for the next two weeks, and it was a sweet ride. Having done some homework, I busted down below and found a cabin with single beds before the rest of the party discovered that a few of them would be getting nice and snug in a few double beds.

That night, after a few beers, we headed out for the crossing. One hundred kilometers due west would bring us to the Mentawais overnight. After a quick chat from the skipper on dangers of falling overboard during the night, we soon passed out as the boat rocked and rolled.

The next morning the sea was still. We had all slept remarkably well, and had lost no one on the crossing, with all the boys using their common sense when pissing in the night. We were in a quiet bay, and in the distance we could see a left breaking.

It was so warm, and we were all in our board shorts already, in which we would live the next two months. Feeling like a warm-up surf would be ideal at this stage of the game, my mate and I asked the skipper if he would quickly run us over to the left in the tender. He obliged, and the three of us motored over, for a quick session before breakfast.

He stopped right in the line-up and we jumped overboard and paddled into position in the soft but fun little left set-up. It had been a long time between sets, and the two of us were ghostly pale in the turquoise waters of the Mentawais. The first set came through and it was a bit bigger than what we thought. We both got caught too deep, and had to duck under the whole set.

We repositioned ourselves for the next set. In the distance we could see lines coming around the tip of the island and heading for us. We were in position. I looked across at my mate, on the inside position for the first wave.

]]>The Road To Balangan, Balihttps://www.all-aboard.co.za/the-road-to-balangan-bali/
Tue, 28 Apr 2015 15:25:37 +0000http://www.all-aboard.co.za/?p=1162We needed somewhere to chill. It sounds contrary, but we were headed to Bali, with in-laws and 9-month-old baby along for the ride. We had heard about the hustle that Kuta Bali had become, and how far the hustle had spread, but we were headed off to Balangan, one headland away from the nightmarish development

]]>We needed somewhere to chill. It sounds contrary, but we were headed to Bali, with in-laws and 9-month-old baby along for the ride. We had heard about the hustle that Kuta Bali had become, and how far the hustle had spread, but we were headed off to Balangan, one headland away from the nightmarish development of Dreamland.

Balangan is mellow, it’s a bit quieter, there are places to hide and there are places to chill. The beach is relaxed, the wave is fun, and there are other waves around the corner. There are cheap beers to be drunk and great local food to be had, and a cool little accommodation spot called Flowerbud. We all piled in.

We were there for a week, and there were waves every single day. They varied from small to medium, and we dint get any big days, but Balangan from all accounts gets even more fun when it gets a bit bigger. The crowds also varied, from very mellow at low tide, to manageable at high tide. Even so, It’s one of those places that when it gets a bit busy in the water, it’ time to come in and chill out on the beach and watch for a while. Before you know it, the crowds thin, and you can head back out for a couple. Otherwise you can crack open an ice cold Bintang and savour where you are in the world.

It took quite a bit of courage and even more planning to make the one-day tourist mission that is Kuta Bali. We set it up with military precision, with a driver on hand to pick us up and drop us off at various places along the way. I only wanted a few Bintang wife-beaters and a bottle of gin, while my wife and her mom were off on some mysterious shopping mission that only mother-daughter pairings would ever understand. I left them to it.

I found the Bintang vests, a bottle of gin, and a bunch of videos that hadn’t even been released yet. Bali’s good like that. I stopped to wait for the rest of the shoppers and enjoyed a coffee and serious session of people-watching as only Kuta can provide, before the long ride back to the peace of Balangan.

Visitors to Bali often choose the western choices on the menus and eat primarily hamburgers and pizza made Indonesian style, while often ignoring the delicious local food. I stuck to nasi gorengs and chicken satay throughout our trip, even eating a spicy little mi goreng for breakfast a few times.

We were sad to leave Bali. We had enjoyed so many waves; found that chill time we needed so much, and signed up our 9-month-old on a Singapore Airlines Frequent Flyer program that would probably do him good in the years to come. He didn’t seem too interested, and gifted his parents the best present ever by sleeping all the way home.

]]>Being a lot less touristy than Bali, one does get an authentic Indonesian experience. With places like the Gili Islands and Mt Rinjani, there is so much to do for not only surfers but divers and explorers. Why don’t you take a guided bicycle tour? There are some beautiful quaint accommodation options and the beaches are spectacular.

Most of Lombok’s south coasts offer surf-seekers challenging waves of various grades. There are four surf-points, which are highly recommended. Within the Lombok’s Kuta Beach there are two points, namely Gerupuk that provides softer waves, and Aik Guling offering waves mostly for the goofy’s. The ideal surf season is during the periods of June, July, August, December and January. The next break is at Ekas Beach that provides more challenging waves and reef-break-point, reachable by boat or by land from Kuta Beach. Alternatively, choose to stay at the Sanctuary in Lombok.

Heaven on the Planet and Ocean Heaven are unique. With breath-taking scenery and world-class surf breaks in front of the two resorts, they re-connect people with busy lives to the environment with natural forests, plantations and a warm ocean. Massage pampering, healthy food and true village staff bring simple reality back to your life. The restaurants have a broad menu, infinity swimming pools, beautiful villas and cottages and many activities for all ages. Internet can take you back into the real world if you want! Tours to lonely and remote Lombok villages, spectacular snorkelling on ancient reefs and many water sports allow you to regenerate. Pure Heaven!

Novotel Lombok is a 4 star resort located on the southern shore of Lombok island, overlooking the beautiful white sand and turquoise bay of Kuta beach. Built 19kms from Bandara International Lombok Airport, our resort features traditional Sasak and provides a tranquil atmosphere set within luscious tropical gardens. Featuring 102 beautiful rooms, suites, traditional Sasak and private pool villas set amongst tropical lush gardens, Novotel Lombok is the essence of relaxation and tranquility. There are plenty of great surf options on the south shore of Lombok, from Kuta right-hander just nearby, to Belongas Bay, Ekas Bay, Gerupuk and many more. You can rent a boat outside the resort and the driver will take you to one of the surf spots.

]]>Get to Sumbawa by air (only a 1 hour flight from mainland Bali), or book a charter from Bali that will visit a bunch of breaks in the area. With some great budget set ups and world class waves, you will score! This region offeres surf all year round however, the peak swell period is from April to September but October to March can also offer perfect clean conditions with light winds.

The Surf

Scar Reef – A long walled left peak where you drive into several backdoor sections all offering tube rides to write home about. Best between 2-10ft. There is also a smaller right hander on the inside reef on the bigger days.

Super Sucks – Some say it’s the longest most intense tube they’ve ever ridden!! Breaking over a live coral reef, this wave reels faultlessly for 150 meters. Get pitted from takeoff to exit. No top turns here when it’s on! Best between 3-6 ft.

Yo-Yo’s – Catches any swell. It consists of two rights, one a wedge peak breaking off a cliff face, the other a long walled right reef in the middle of the bay, usually surfed when everywhere else is small. Best between 2-6 ft but has been surfed at up to 12 ft and bigger.

Lakey Peak (Sumbawa)

There are 5 world class surfing waves situated in the same bay directly in front of Aman Gati Hotel:

Lakey Peak – Voted # 33 in the Top Waves of the World. An intense hollow right & left-hand A frame, with the left generally being longer, the right can fire on the proper swell direction. Lakey Peak has a guaranteed backdoor for those with the balls to pull in. Best at 5-8 foot that holds all sizes and goes off at mid-tides, and the left can provide some deep barrels to be surfed at low tides if the swell is big enough.

Lakey Pipe – is on either side of ‘The peak’ a popular wave amongst the body boarders and ‘No-mans’ which is suitable for the more extreme surfer. A short, but very hollow barrel that often pinches shut. Better from mid to high tide. ‘The beachey’ only breaks in the lagoon with the big swells and is more suitable for the less experienced surfer.

Lakey Left – Across the channel from the peak. With right size swell and direction this normally sectiony wave can line up and provide deep barrels.

Lakey Right – A few hundred meters down the beach. A short, bowling right-hander that breaks into a deep-water dent in the reef. Some fun barrels. Holds only to about 8 foot.

Periscopes – Voted # 44 in Top Waves in the World. A fun righthand wave at the eastern end of a long reef that sticks way out into the bay, Periscopes can offer a high, tight barrel over a relatively safe reef platform, and a clean exit into a channel. Only a short paddle out and better at high tides with glassy or N (offshore) winds. Blown out by dry season trades. Holds only to about 8 foot. About a mile walk up the beach from the surf camp.

]]>Carpe Vitahttps://www.all-aboard.co.za/carpe-vita/
Wed, 16 Apr 2014 11:51:09 +0000http://www.all-aboard.co.za/site/?p=960The MV Carpe Vita Explorer, is a brand new luxury surf charter boat designed and built for guests that enjoy a full service surf & dive charter.

]]>The MV Carpe Vita is a brand new luxury 38m long motor safari yacht with a wooden hull, designed and built by experienced Maldivian boat builders. It will be accompanied by a specially designed new 61 foot Dhoni (diving & surfing tender) to meet the needs and comfort of both divers & surfers. The Carpe Vita Explorer has 10 guest cabins divided in 3 categories over 3 decks and can cater for a maximum of 20 guests but you only need a group of 12 to have the boat for an exclusive charter.

With 13 crew on board to take care of your every need, this is a truly service-inspired charter boat. Captain Shereef is one of the best captains in the Maldives with 10 years experience navigating the best boats through every atoll in the Maldives, so he has your safety covered. He is supported by his 2nd in charge and they have another 2 boat boys & an onboard engineer looking after every element to run a smooth & trouble free surfari. You have 2 chefs dishing up 3 meals per day of a mix of Asian and Western dishes and they are assisted by a fulltime barman and waiter for evening cocktails and a truly fine dining experience. Each day your cabin is turned over by your own room attendant and fresh towels and sheets are just a request away. One of most important parts of any surf charter is the surf guide.

On Carpe Vita from 2014, there is a full-time Australian surf guide onboard to ensure you have the best surf trip of your life. Your surf guide will be Brian James, who has been surfing himself for over 40 years and has 12 years of experience surf guiding in the Maldives. Brian has adopted the Maldives as his home for most of the year and even owns the first surf camp in the Maldives – Cokes Surf Camp. So with Brian in charge of your trip you are in some of the best hands possible. He is also pretty handy with his still and video camera. Knowledge is everything on a surf charter so an experienced surf guide is essential. For recreation you have a separate support craft, called a Dhoni. This vessel is a fully equipped surf & dive craft to take you to surf and dive spots while the mother ship is anchored in a safe vantage point. You have another 3 crew on this boat to look after your every need along with another 15 ft dingy to get nice and close to the breaks. For the divers on board you have two experienced dive masters to do dives in between surfs or even a Padi certified dive course for non surfers.

]]>Offering exclusive access to the classic Pasta Point surf break, Chaaya Island Dhonveli is the only holiday resort with a programme designed especially for surfers. Surf the region’s most consistent break, is just a minute’s walk from your room.

Other classic breaks – Sultans, Honky’s and Jailbreak – are less than ten minutes away by boat. You can see the waves from Chaaya Dhonveli, so you’ll know when they’re pumping. No matter what the conditions are, you’re in the perfect spot. Boats are available throughout the day, from 6am for those who want a solid session before breakfast. They make morning and afternoon trips to Chickens and Colas (about 45 minutes away) when conditions are favourable.

All boats have radio communication with each other and the island, for the latest information on surf conditions and surfer numbers, and as a safety precaution. Chaaya Island Dhonveli accommodates up to 250 guests, but the number of surfers is limited to just 30. Resort facilities include a spa, open-air restaurants, three bars (one overlooking Pasta Point), swimming pool, billiards, tennis court, badminton, gym, safe beach for children, and a fully certified PADI Diving School. With a perfect white sand beach and plenty to do for non-surfing partners and children, it’s a great place to relax or to holiday with the family.

Accommodation

Standard accommodation is in two-storey air-conditioned Garden Bungalows, with a king size bed up on the mezzanine level. On the ground level there’s a spacious sitting room with an extra bed (or day bed), and a separate bathroom.

Facilities include tea/coffee making, a stocked mini-bar, satellite-cable TV, telephone, closets, writing table and chairs. Additional beds can be provided for family accommodation.
Facing the lagoon, Beach Bungalows are beautifully finished with tropical timbers and textured walls. There’s a king-size bed and an open-air bathroom with shower and tub in a private tropical garden. Other luxuries include a divan/day bed, mini-bar, satellite-cable TV, telephone and air conditioning. The spacious room can accommodate another bed for family holidays if required.
Wake up to the sound of the surf in a Water Bungalows built over the water inside the reef, with views of the waves and the Pasta Point break just a short stroll away. Water Bungalows are air conditioned and fully equipped with spa bath, minibar, tea/coffee making, TV, telephone, writing table, separate bathroom and private sun deck.
Built over the blue lagoon, Over Water Suites have a wide outdoor deck with private sun lounges and steps down to the water. The bedroom has a king sized bed and en suite bathroom with shower and personal spa bath.

Things to do

Discover Maldivian village life on an Island-Hopping Tour, or visit the main island of Male on a Shopping-Sightseeing Tour – just book at the resort (extra charge applies).The resort’s own dive operator conducts Scuba Diving courses and runs daily trips to some of the best dive sites in the Maldives. A separate living room features a divan/day bed, TV, entertainment system, minibar, telephone, writing desk and internet access.The open-air Makana Restaurant serves an international buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For those who like to try the local foods, and particularly enjoy a curry, the Maldivian dishes are highly recommended. Right at the water’s edge, the Raiyvilaa Bar opens daily from 8am till late at night. It’s the place to enjoy a fancy cocktail on the open deck as the sun sets on another tropical island day. The Raalhu Bar, overlooking the break at Pasta Point, is the ideal place to watch the action or retreat for a cool beer after a long day in the surf. It’s open from 6am till late at night. The Kayasa Spa offers a range of health and beauty treatments – for surfers we especially recommend the Sport Massage, to loosen tight muscles and relax the body and mind.